Keeping pets safe around pesticides

Updated 3:53 pm, Monday, July 1, 2013

Dear Cathy: One of my friend's dogs got into some Roundup. Fortunately, the dog survived. I have five indoor/outdoor cats and one dog. As a result of my friend's experience, I am now more conscience of insecticides. I was wondering what type of ant insecticide would be safe to use around animals. I've heard that vinegar and baking soda are good for killing weeds, but have not heard of anything for ants. I looked at some insecticides but they all indicate they could be harmful to humans and animals. I asked one clerk who stated, “They all say that.”

I'm sure others have the same concern that I have. Thanks for your help.

Dear Sally: Molly Keck, M.S., BCE, Integrated Pest Management Program specialist at Texas AgriLife Extension Service, Bexar County, says “for fire ants, you must kill the queens to kill the colony. Vinegar usually does not kill the colony. Baits are a great option if you are worried about pets, but truthfully, as long as you use the recommended rates of any pesticide, your pets will be safe. Baits have far less pesticide concentration. In the heat, fire ants prefer to forage at night, so apply in the early evening, put the pets up (for the night) and the majority of the bait will be removed by the ants (by morning).”

Use only products that give specific instructions on how long children or pets need to be away from treated areas and follow these directions carefully.

I hire a company to treat my yard for fire ants because I know they will apply it in the proper amounts and can assure me the product is safe around animals and children. “A cup of coffee is more dangerous to a pet than the products I apply,” my lawn guy says. The product comes from plant extracts and says the only thing I need to do is keep the dogs in the house until the yard dries, which takes about an hour.

Here are a few other garden cautionary tales.

Some plants, including sago palm, rhododendron, foxglove, kalanchoe and azalea, are toxic to cats and dogs. Check out the ASPCA's toxic plants page for a full list of plants and pictures.

Fertilizers can present life-threatening gastrointestinal problems, so follow instructions carefully and observe the appropriate waiting period before letting your pet back into the yard after application.

Cocoa mulch compost, which smells like chocolate and is attractive to dogs, can be toxic to them as well. Don't use cocoa mulch in your garden if you have pets.

Send your pet stories and questions to Cathy M. Rosenthal, c/o Features Department, San Antonio Express-News, P.O. Box 2171, San Antonio, TX 78297-2171 or cathy@petpundit.com. Cathy's advice column runs every Tuesday. You can read her blog, Animals Matter, at http://blog.mysanantonio. com/animals/. Cathy is the author of several children's books.